Order of Light
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The Order of Light (known as the Order) is the Breland organisation of the Path of Light.
It was started X time ago by what was to become Clan Tâna after a number of Kalashtar and Clerics were slaughtered, and the haphazard way the Path of Light functioned in Khorvaire was seen as unsustainable.
Over time both Clan Tâna and the Order of Light have become bigger, more powerful and more organised, however they try to keep true to their roots, and work hard to keep relevant.
Faith Aspirations
Organisation
Temples
The Order of Light has a number of core aspirations:
Always work towards the light and encourage the light within others
Protect the innocent, the less fortunate and the injured
Defend the Kalashtar and the followers of the Path of Light
Seek awareness to understand yourself and others
Use your resources and abilities to grow your community and others
Build understanding, respect and truth between all
Fight the darkness and evil wherever it may be, in the way you are best able
The Order is organised to balance functioning without undue bureaucracy, and ensuring representation and protection from corruption. It also balances the dual-aspects that are core to the Path, passivity and action, human and alien, Eberron bound and Dal Quor yearning.
The Undeclared: 4 neophytes and 4 lay members
The Hierarchy: 2 Leaders of each of the Light Bringers, Sword of Light, and the Ministry
The Temples: 1 voted member from each of the 16 temples
Other than the Hierarchy, no member can sit on the council for more than 1 cycle (5 years) without a break. This is to reduce power blocks and totalitarianism.
The Council operates from the Wroat Temple.
The Council of Taratâi
At the peak of the Order is the Council of Taratâi (often called The Council or The 30), named after the leader of the Quori who fled Dal Quor, the lost Quori. This council of equals oversees changes to the Breland order, threats, opportunities and dogma. It is composed of 30 members, and must include:Light Bringers
The yannahsur or Light Bringers are the non militarised arm of the Order, overseeing the standard temple activities across Breland, providing guidance, advice and organising the operations and funding of the temples. There are 7 Temples that are part of this group, they are the larger ones in more urbanised areas. Their home base is Xandrar Temple.The Ministry
This is the diplomatic, mercantile and financial arm of the Order across Breland. Clan Tâna works closely with this section and supplies a lot of funding. They are the most likely area to have non-cleric members, with Diplomats, Merchants, Administrators and Financiers among their ranks. It is also the smallest group. The Ministry is spread across the Temples, however its base is Sarilaskur Temple.read more..
Sword of Light
The sheshantol or Sword of Light are more active members who support the border protection and provide healing services to the troops of their locations at no cost. Hunting the Dreaming Dark agents, and other evil agencies sits with these temples, so they are more militaristic, and ironically often more understood by their human settlements. Many sheshantol aligned Kalashtar will be sent to one of the 8 small temples for training. Most are near borders or monster infested areas. Their headquarters is in Sterngate Temple.Sharn Temple
This is the largest and most powerful of the Temples of the Order other than Wroat Temple. It reports directly to the Council, as it is felt it may otherwise overpower the smaller temples. It is not just one temple but a series of temples across Sharn and it's settlement, with a large main temple.read more..
There are 16 Temples of the Order of Light, with the Sharn one having a varying number of locations. Each temple looks after it's home location and the surrounding area's, and supporting the next nearest temples, usually so there is a triangle of 3 Temples keeping each other informed and supported.
The temples of the Order are not hidden affairs. Their role is to inspire and be places of safety and peace.
They have beautiful inspiring architecture, are always white on the outside, always have well tended gardens (even if small), have spaces for mediation and are uncluttered and open. At night spells keep them lit, and they are open to all, glowing in the night as a beacon of hope.
Temples vary by size, location and purpose, but they all have in common these features:
Library with comfortable seats and tables for study
Clinic for tending the wounded, usually with a herbarium and alchemy area
Dormitories for clerics and warriors
Common room for injured patients
Rooms for guests or travelling clerics
Kitchen and dining hall
Reception hall
Preceptor's office
All temples have hidden ways to protect themselves and despite their beauty all can be an unassailable fort when required.
The observant will notice how thick the glowing white walls are, the strength of the glass-steel windows and just how thick that engraved oak door really is and the quality of the heavy ornate locks on it.
The really observant will notice how sharp those pretty stones in the garden are, and that those glorious flowers have really sharp thorns...
Wroat Temple (Daytime)